Saturday, May 9, 2009

The Prime Minister Visits Venture Companies

Prime Minister Taro Aso visited venture companies in Chiba Prefecture that are developing advanced technologies in agriculture and fisheries industries.

In Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, the Prime Minister first visited a company manufacturing and selling vegetables. The company, which has succeeded to artificially control environmental factors essential for plant growth, such as temperature, light, water, and nutrients, manufactures vegetables indoors stably without being affected by weather. The hygiene control in an almost germfree condition also enables the company to manufacture organic vegetables.

After receiving an explanation, Prime Minister Aso ate a piece of organic lettuce. He said, "It is crisp and not so bitter."

The Prime Minister then moved to Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, to visit a company which has developed a frozen storage technology.

By combining the CAS freezing/chilled system, which the company developed on its own, and rapid freezing equipment, the company succeeded to develop a technology to freeze and store food while curbing the destruction of cells and maintaining freshness.

In answering a question from a reporter after the visit, Prime Minister Aso said, "The primary industries such as agriculture and fisheries have a potential to be growth industries when combined with these technologies. These are an example of successful experimental cases realized through the collaboration of agriculture and industry, as we often say 'nou-shou-kou' (agriculture, commerce, and industry). I believe there will be a significant ripple effect. The government's role is to ensure that these are all well coordinated."